Purchasing furniture sustainably at auction
03 September 2024 You are looking for some great new pieces for your home. Tick off your list: you want it to be stylish, practical, comfortable and well-made. But you also want something sustainable.
Furniture bought at auction can be pleasing to the eye and to the environment. Pictured here is a selection from the more than 300 furniture items on offer at the Lots Road Fine Interiors Sale in London on September 8 which features a total of more than 600 lots. Included is this pair of 1960s Danish style armchairs estimated at £1400-£1800.
That’s where buying at auction can help.
Here is a set of three chairs, designed by Mart Starm, with an additional matched set of five - a total of eight chairs - estimated at £2000-£2500.
Choosing furniture at auction gives you the chance to pick up something unique. Although there are certainly many antiques to be found, if that’s not your style, there is also an abundance of vintage and modern pieces out there. If you do go for something older, there’s a good bet that it’s sturdily built (hey, it’s made it this long).
However, buying furniture under the hammer means you’re making the sustainable choice. Selecting something that is second hand is almost always going to put you at an advantage.
Thanks to a carbon emissions study commissioned by Auction Technology Group, it’s also possible to get a feel for how much you save on certain purchases. For example, buying a dining table at auction saves 0.46 tonnes compared with buying one new. An armchair saves 0.16 tonnes, a sofa 0.563 and a chest of drawers 0.322 tonnes.
All that’s left is to choose your desired piece and start bidding.
This pair of Murano glass table lamps is estimated at £500-600.
Remember, that doesn’t mean chuck out all your furniture and start over (nothing sustainable in that - you could sell them at auction or pass them on to someone you know). However, a few choice pieces, such as the ones listed here, can really make a statement.
This framed artist's proof by Jean Cocteau is estimated at £3500-£4500.
If you’re new to the auction scene, remember to check where the auction house is located before placing a bid, be aware of the auctioneer’s delivery policy, and, if at all possible either go to a viewing or request a condition report. You can read more about how to buy at auction with our handy guide.
